Series 1 - Executive Committee

In 1936 the conference Executive consisted of six Ältesten (Bishops), each elected for a three year voluntary term. By 1959 the conference moved to electing its executive officers annually, limiting the re-election of the same officers to two consecutive years. No person could be elected to more than one of the standing committees.

The Conference of Mennonites in Manitoba continued to elect only Ältesten as its moderators until 1969 when the young leading minister of North Kildonan, Abram E. Rempel, was nominated from the floor and elected. In 1988 the conference needed more consistent leadership and moderators went from a one-year to a two-year term, renewable three years consecutively.

During the restructuring in 1989, the Conference of Mennonites in Manitoba approved a pastoral Leadership Commission to work together with the Conference Minister on the many issues facing the congregations and their ministerial leadership. Strengthening took place in the areas of executive and ministerial leadership.

Annual sessions took place in October or November until 1965 when they were moved to February of the following year (1966). Since then the sessions have continued to be held in either February or March. A yearbook is published for every session.

In the early 1970s the office of Conference Minister began. Ernest Wiebe, part-time treasurer and office manager, and Bernie Wiebe, FLC director, both involved in counseling services were referred to as conference ministers. In 1975 Ernest Wiebe was assigned to give more time specifically to the needs of ministerial leaders and their congregations. From 1976-1979 the Conference was without a conference minister. John F. Wiebe was acting conference minister part-time in 1979 and full-time in 1981. The conference minister's role became that of consultant, mediator, spiritual adviser and support to pastors and congregations.

The conference's growing programs demanded more time and volunteer help became harder to find. By the end of the 1982 reorganization, paid staff and staff increases were necessary. The Conference of Mennonites in Manitoba headed in the direction of a more centralized staff, each with their committee.

The Personnel Committee approved all hiring, negotiated salary schedules and approved all personnel changes. The Program and Nominations Committee sought nominations for the Conference program committees and arranged the order of business for the annual conference sessions and special delegate sessions. In 1991 the Personnel Committee appointed Henry Loewen, as executive secretary to fill the vacant position of (business) administrator.

In 1990 the Pastoral Leadership Commission was added to the Conference of Mennonites in Manitoba. Its purpose was to organize and be a support to pastors in the congregation. It changed its name in 2002 to Leadership Ministries.

The Executive over the years has consisted of the Moderator, Vice Moderator and the Secretary.

The moderators were:

• G.G. Neufeld (1947-1952)
• David Schulz (1953-1957)
• G.G. Neufeld (1958-1960)
• David Schulz (1961-1962)
• Paul Schaeffer (1963-1966)
• Jake Harms (1967-1969)
• Abe Rempel (1970-1972)
• Jake F. Pauls (1973-1975)
• Werner Neufeld (1976-1978)
• Otto Hamm (1979)
• Bernie Wiebe (1980-1982)
• John H. Neufeld (1983-1984)
• William Block (1985)
• Bernie Wiebe (1986-1988)
• Frank J. Neufeld (1989-1990)
• Neil Heinrichs (1991-1996)
• Edgar Rempel (1997-1999)
• Bernie Wiebe (2000-2001)